A photo of Amy Bailes.

Amy F. Bailes, PT, PhD

  • Physical Therapist III, Division of Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy
  • Associate Professor, UC Department of Allied Health
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I am a physical therapist (PT) specializing in treating children with neurodevelopmental disorders, primarily those with cerebral palsy (CP).
Amy F. Bailes, PT, PhD

About

Biography

I am a physical therapist (PT) specializing in treating children with neurodevelopmental disorders, primarily those with cerebral palsy (CP). I am also an associate professor in the College of Allied Health Science at the University of Cincinnati. My interest in PT began as a teenager when I babysat and volunteered to provide services to a child with cerebral palsy.

There is a need for more evidence to support the care we provide. As a health services researcher, I focus on learning what dose of physical therapy produces the best outcomes. Many factors play a role in determining what works for which child and when. Working with families and children to determine best practices, such as the best therapy program for each child and family, drives my research. I am also working to engage other clinicians in research.

I’m honored to be the recipient of various awards, including:

  • The Jeanne Hughes Award, given by the Pediatric Physical Therapy Journal for the best manuscript published in the journal completed while the author was a student (2012)
  • The Promotion of Doctoral Studies (PODS) I Scholarship from the Foundation for Physical Therapy (2009, 2010, 2011)
  • The Jayne Snyder Award for exceptional clinician from the Foundation for Physical Therapy (2011)

I am also on the Cerebral Palsy Research Network's leadership team — a multi-center, multi-discipline collaboration among patients, families and clinicians to foster high-quality, high-impact clinical research and quality improvement for treatments in CP.

BS: Physical Therapy, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, 1985.

MS: Pediatric Physical Therapy Science, Boston University, Boston, MA, 1990.

PhD: Clinical Epidemiology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, 2014.

Specialist Certification: American Physical Therapy Association, Pediatric Clinical Specialist, 1993 to present.

Interests

Developmental disabilities; cerebral palsy

Services and Specialties

Interests

Cerebral palsy; dosing; service utilization

Research Areas

Insurance Information

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Publications

Multicenter Improvement in Screening for Dystonia in Young People With Cerebral Palsy. Aravamuthan, BR; Lott, EJ; Pehlivan, E; Chintalapati, K; Grenard, D; Roge, D; Gelineau-Morel, R; Kyle, D; Becu, C; Kruer, MC; Katus, L; Gross, P; Bailes, A; Cerebral Palsy Research Network, . Neurology: Clinical Practice. 2025; 15:e200469.

Physical Therapy Dose After Orthopedic Multilevel Surgery Varies by Ambulatory Status in Children With Cerebral Palsy: A Pilot Study. Greve, K; Bailes, AF; Zhang, N; Long, J; Aronow, B; Mitelpunkt, A. Pediatric Physical Therapy. 2025; 37:37-44.

Interventions to Improve the Occupational Performance of Youth With Persistent Postconcussion Symptoms: A Systematic Review. Heinekamp, A; Molnar, N; Lennon, A; Bailes, A; Hugentobler, J; Previtera, M. American Journal of Occupational Therapy. 2024; 78:7806205060.

White matter characteristics in children with cerebral palsy prior to selective dorsal rhizotomy: a multicenter diffusion tensor imaging study. Yuan, W; Stevenson, CB; Moretti, P; Mangano, FT; Pavanello, M; Cama, A; Tortora, D; Tacchino, C; Bailes, AF; Greve, KR; Harpster, K; Kurowski, BG; Mitelpunkt, A; Aronow, B. Journal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics. 2024; 34:268-277.

Mental Health Diagnoses Risk Among Children and Young Adults With Cerebral Palsy, Chronic Conditions, or Typical Development. Bhatnagar, S; Mitelpunkt, A; Rizzo, JJ; Zhang, N; Guzman, T; Schuetter, R; Vargus-Adams, J; Bailes, AF; Greve, K; Gerstle, M; Pedapati, E; Aronow, B; Kurowski, BG. JAMA Network Open. 2024; 7:e2422202.

Spreading Standardized Documentation of Pediatric Occupational and Physical Therapy Dose: A Quality Improvement Initiative. Tanner, K; Reader, B; O'Rourke, S; Byars, M; Fallieras, K; Brunelle, A; Bailes, A. American Journal of Occupational Therapy. 2024; 78:7804205050.

A big data approach to evaluate receipt of optimal care in childhood cerebral palsy. Mitelpunkt, A; Stodola, MA; Vargus-Adams, J; Kurowski, BG; Greve, K; Bhatnagar, S; Aronow, B; Zahner, J; Bailes, AF. Disability and Rehabilitation. 2024; 46:723-730.

A multicenter initiative to reduce intrathecal baclofen pump surgical site infection: a Cerebral Palsy Research Network quality improvement project. Bollo, RJ; Gross, PH; Rocque, BG; Browd, SR; Raskin, JS; Leonard, JR; Albarqawi, L; Bailes, AF. Journal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics. 2023; 31:444-452.

Outpatient hospital utilization after single event multi-level surgery in children with cerebral palsy. Greve, KR; Bailes, AF; Zhang, N; Long, J; Aronow, B; Mitelpunkt, A. Journal of Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine. 2023; 16:139-148.

Inpatient Physical Therapy After Orthopedic Lower Extremity Surgery in Children With Cerebral Palsy. Bailes, AF; Mangeot, C; Murphy, NJ; Richardson, Z; McCarthy, J; McManus, BM. Pediatric Physical Therapy. 2023; 35:57-64.

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